I was listening to Trivisonno's show Wednesday and they had some of the main players involved in the latest attempt to get casino gaming into Ohio. This, unlike the last attempt, is a private business instead of the state run proposal (which still had private interests). They have a website http://www.myohionow.com if you haven't already checked it out. It looks impressive on paper, both the revenue sharing and the resort itself. I'm of the opinion that casino people should run casinos and the state get their cut to produce the best product. I'm not against private interests making a profit from gambling as long as the state is receiving ample relative compensation. A well run casino/resort will bring in more revenue than a half assed state run operation (visit Presque Isle in Erie, PA) It amazed me how many people called in skeptical about this being a private enterprise. I don't trust our elected officials as far as I could throw them, yet people actually want the state to control gaming. Unreal. I'm curious as to others opinions about this issue. I realize this doesn't bring gambling to Cleveland, but it could bring it to the state, which is a start. Please chime in.

Their bill won't pass because it makes little sense. Approve casino gambling, but only for OUR casino, which we are going to put in the middle of bumfuck Ohio.

The revenue sharing is a solid plan, based on per capita and all. But if you want them to work, put one in C-Town, one in C-Bus and one in Cincitucky. Make them the biggest baddest hotel and casinos in the midwest (Seneca Niagara on roids) and bring in outside money.

Their bill won't pass because it makes little sense. Approve casino gambling, but only for OUR casino, which we are going to put in the middle of bumfuck Ohio.

The revenue sharing is a solid plan, based on per capita and all. But if you want them to work, put one in C-Town, one in C-Bus and one in Cincitucky. Make them the biggest baddest hotel and casinos in the midwest (Seneca Niagara on roids) and bring in outside money.

This bill makes a hell of a lot more sense than any of the previous attempts.

While it is in "Bumfuck, Ohio", that's also probably the cheapest place to get the land and most central to the areas that voting strongly against it, aside from Cuyahoga County. Putting it in Cuyahoga County is a losing proposition from the get-go and this group knows that. There is no way with the political leadership in this area that casino gambling would ever fly.

I'm 100% in favor of gambling in the state of Ohio. The loss of money to out of state and out of country casinos is staggering. People are going to be compulsive gamblers, beat their wives/children, and raise divorce rates whether there's a casino 10 minutes away or 4 hours away. That's the only argument that opposition factions can throw at voters- the social consequences. But once again, the economic benefits, not to mention the increase in jobs, is much larger than potential social problems that already exist with or without a casino in Ohio.

The distribution of money is a great idea, but they also need to get voters to understand the system and how it works. For the idiots out there that say, "The lottery was supposed to do the same thing", they are just a microcosm of the state's issues as a whole. Casinos bring in lots of residual money from four/five-star hotels, conventions, entertainment, and the like. The project even includes a future superspeedway race track for NASCAR, big big money. Plus golf courses and the like.

It's a sound proposal and one that will probably fail because of the ass backwards state of affairs in Ohio.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

Otherwise I like it, getting gambling in Ohio should be a very high priority.

I agree getting this done is a top priority. I don't think people realize how much revenue leaves Ohio every day to casino's in Detroit, Indiana etc... Hell I see bus loads of people going to the Detroit casino's all the time on the west side of the state

Skating Tripods wrote:This bill makes a hell of a lot more sense than any of the previous attempts.

While it is in "Bumfuck, Ohio", that's also probably the cheapest place to get the land and most central to the areas that voting strongly against it, aside from Cuyahoga County. Putting it in Cuyahoga County is a losing proposition from the get-go and this group knows that. There is no way with the political leadership in this area that casino gambling would ever fly.

I'm 100% in favor of gambling in the state of Ohio. The loss of money to out of state and out of country casinos is staggering. People are going to be compulsive gamblers, beat their wives/children, and raise divorce rates whether there's a casino 10 minutes away or 4 hours away. That's the only argument that opposition factions can throw at voters- the social consequences. But once again, the economic benefits, not to mention the increase in jobs, is much larger than potential social problems that already exist with or without a casino in Ohio.

The distribution of money is a great idea, but they also need to get voters to understand the system and how it works. For the idiots out there that say, "The lottery was supposed to do the same thing", they are just a microcosm of the state's issues as a whole. Casinos bring in lots of residual money from four/five-star hotels, conventions, entertainment, and the like. The project even includes a future superspeedway race track for NASCAR, big big money. Plus golf courses and the like.

It's a sound proposal and one that will probably fail because of the ass backwards state of affairs in Ohio.

I agree with most of what you say. The only problem in passing this bill is: The bill strictly states they will be the ONLY casino in the state. That isn't gonna fly.

Who else gets to open a business and have it law that they get zero competition? It will destroy the chances of ever having casino anywhere it matters. Like around people.

And I don't care what the leaders in Cuyahoga County say. They are the idiots that continue to let Cleveland turn into the shithole it is.

You have to get gambling legal in the State. Once that happens, someone can get the work going on making it legal in Cuyahoga Count. Someone could probably run at that fact alone, have sound legitimate proposals for how the money would be used (schools?) and bring this city out of the hole.

But for that to happen, you can't lock down the law to only allow 1 casino.

Pup wrote:I agree with most of what you say. The only problem in passing this bill is: The bill strictly states they will be the ONLY casino in the state. That isn't gonna fly.

Who else gets to open a business and have it law that they get zero competition? It will destroy the chances of ever having casino anywhere it matters. Like around people.

If this casino flourishes and the voting public takes note of it, this same group with certainly propose an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to get another casino in the state.

Regardless of future ramifications, that can be dealt with later. It doesn't change my opinion that one casino is better than none. Even if it is in the middle of nowhere, and yeah, it's not close to Cleveland and going to Mountaineer, MGM, Motor City, Wheeling, Presque Isle, and others is still closer, the residuals will trickle down to Cuyahoga Cty whether we go or not.

You have to get gambling legal in the State. Once that happens, someone can get the work going on making it legal in Cuyahoga Count. Someone could probably run at that fact alone, have sound legitimate proposals for how the money would be used (schools?) and bring this city out of the hole.

But for that to happen, you can't lock down the law to only allow 1 casino.

Right, you answered your own point from above. You've got to start with one. Then you can expand. Change is slow in this state, but not impossible. There will always be naysayers, but if the economy improves and jobs can be had, sacrifice should be inevitable.

Using money on the schools would be wasting it at this point. If the referendum goes through that civil service employees no longer have to live in Cleveland, it's going to become a huge slum. Moreso than it already is. I know several policemen who are going to move their families out if this referendum goes through. And if I know several, with my limited network, there have to be many more that feel the same way. Honestly, if you want to spend money on the schools, Ohio should make higher education cheaper, both for in-state and out-of-state students. More availability of higher education might help to keep the intelligent young Americans in this area, which would then increase research and development corporations and other high-tech industry to come to this area.

So instead of using it on the schools, you'll have to increase tourism, because the value of property in the city will be so far down the shitter that it will trickle to the schools. That would include a Flats project and fixing the lakefront. A casino would be ideal there, but if that can't be done, build another horsetrack. Perhaps a greyhound track at the same complex. Horse tracks have had their share of resistance around here, but Northfield and Thistledown still seem to be keeping their heads above water.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

It doesn't state that they have to be the only casino operating in the state, but in the event of a competing casino opening, it would lessen their obligation to the state. Personally, I enjoy gambling, but I would prefer that the money spent there was from visitors to the state. There are plenty of places in "bumfuck" that attract consumers who will go where the quality product is located. This looks like a pretty bad ass place on paper

Authorize no more than one privately-owned Ohio casino in the State of Ohio to be operated legally at a specified site in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of State Route 73 and Interstate 71 in Chester Township, Clinton County

Authorize no more than one privately-owned Ohio casino in the State of Ohio to be operated legally at a specified site in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of State Route 73 and Interstate 71 in Chester Township, Clinton County

.

That says 'privately owned'. The state could still open others when they see the cake being made in that one.

Otherwise I like it, getting gambling in Ohio should be a very high priority.

I agree getting this done is a top priority. I don't think people realize how much revenue leaves Ohio every day to casino's in Detroit, Indiana etc... Hell I see bus loads of people going to the Detroit casino's all the time on the west side of the state

We only need to put your statement on the ballot, seriously think about what you said.

Detroit, we're talking about Detroit.

When the top ten list of shit holes in America comes up it is Washington DC and Detroit as 1a and 1b, and one of them is getting our revenue for purpose of gambling. Unreal.

Technically they both are getting our revenue, and you could say both for gambling.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"

Provide that, if other casino operations are ever subsequently permitted at any additional sites in the State of Ohio, the tax on Gross Casino Receipts at the casino authorized by this section shall not exceed the lesser of twenty-five percent or the percentage payable by any other casino operations subsequently authorized.

It is slightly more detailed in the full text of the proposed amendment (it's in section B of the amendment), but it does provide proposed provisions for other gaming operations to exist in the state.

Authorize no more than one privately-owned Ohio casino in the State of Ohio to be operated legally at a specified site in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of State Route 73 and Interstate 71 in Chester Township, Clinton County

.

I might be interpreting it wrong, but I think that it means to only approve one casino in this legislation. Not to approve previous plans that had land-based casinos, racetracks with slot machines, and the like spread out throughout the state.

I don't believe that the wording there means that more casinos are strictly verboten. I think that language just applies to this specific proposal and is independent of future casino proposals.

It's kind of counter-productive to restrict any future casinos, especially if this one succeeds as its projected to.

The state needs to shove it up the leadership's ass and vote for casinos. Because the current system we have is not helping us whatsoever.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe